The Victorian Government has donated $500,000 to the Australian-Ukrainian community’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal (UCA) to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and assist in the rebuilding of critical infrastructure under the United24 program initiated by President Zelenskyy.
Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM, Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) said “Our community is extremely grateful for this sizeable donation from the Victorian Government. The funds will assist our charity, a collaboration between the AFUO, Rotary Australia World Community Service and Caritas Ukraine, to provide emergency shelter, food and medical supplies to the millions of Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“The funds will also help to re-build schools, hospitals and libraries destroyed by Russian forces through President Zelenskyy’s United24 Rebuild Ukraine program.”
“Even though Ukraine has recently forged victories in reclaiming occupied territory, its needs are critical and ongoing. We can’t sink into Ukraine fatigue and think Ukraine can do it alone.”
The Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews, made the announcement in a letter to the AFUO, noting the donation complements the Victorian Government’s ongoing assistance to the local Ukrainian community, which has recently welcomed close to two thousand displaced people from Ukraine.
Mr Romaniw thanked the Premier and the Victorian Government saying “For the last 7 months, the Victorian Government has assisted in the resettlement of displaced Ukrainians by providing English language training, employment services, and other support. Displaced Ukrainians have arrived in Australia with barely more than one suitcase, and in many cases, have needed to leave husbands, fathers and sons behind in Ukraine to keep fighting.”
“Our community has also appreciated the Victorian Government’s public condemnation of Russian aggression and its symbolic support for Ukraine by lighting up buildings in blue and yellow,” he added.
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal, the largest Australian tax-deductible fundraising effort for Ukraine, has raised over $6.5 million since 24 February 2022 to provide emergency aid and humanitarian relief for Ukraine.
Through its International Co-ordination of Medical Aid for Ukraine subcommittee, an additional $20 million of medical aid has been sourced from Australian medical institutions and flown to London, where it is transported via road convoy and volunteers to soldiers on the front line and Ukrainian hospitals.
The letter to the AFUO from Premier Dan Andrews:
Photo Source: www.parliament.vic.gov.au
